North Zone fire managers on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest and the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park have announced locations where they plan to complete prescribed fire projects starting this month and continuing through the spring of 2019. Approximately 10,000 acres could be eligible for treatment across the plateau in Fiscal Year 2019, but the implementation of each project will only occur when weather, fuel moisture, and smoke dispersal conditions are within the defined prescription parameters.
Fredonia
A smoke column was visible yesterday as increased fire activity simultaneously pushed growth south to Forest Road 610 and west to Forest Road 219. Firefighters successfully established the dozer line off FR D2441, which was done to help reinforce movement of the fire’s western flank.
“We expect strong winds this afternoon,” said Cat Fire Incident Commander Kody Stoner. “Today, the plan is to monitor the drainage to the west of the main fire and initiate firing operations as necessary in order to reduce the effects of high severity fire behavior that could occur today.”
Fire activity increased due to lower relative humidity and increased winds mid-afternoon yesterday. Meanwhile, firefighters completed firing operations on the western flank of the main fire along Forest Road 2599 and south to FR 610.
Today firefighters plan to conduct firing operations on an as-needed basis only and install dozer line off FR D2441. This dozer line will help firefighters reinforce the western flank in the event that increased fire behavior pushes the main fire westward toward FR219.
Cat Fire Overview:
If conditions are favorable to do so, firefighters will continue to conduct burnout operations on the Cat Fire today that has burned approximately 4,497 acres in the rugged terrain of Saddle Mountain Wilderness in the North Kaibab Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest.
Incident Commander Kody Stoner said that crews were successful with their burnout on the fire’s west flank adjacent to Forest Road 2599 yesterday and plan to continue to burnout that western flank and work south toward Forest Road 610 today.
Although there has been change in overhead, Kody Stoner, the new incident commander on the Cat fire stated, “Not much change has occurred on the fire and activity remains low. There was no smoke visibility yesterday.” With showers expected to come in over higher terrain areas between Monday and Tuesday, fire activity will be very quiet.
Cat Fire Overview:
Date reported: August 6, 2018
Moisture received yesterday on the Cat Fire moderated fire behavior and dampened light fuels, delaying planned burnout operations. If favorable conditions exist and it is safe to do so, crews plan to conduct burnout operations, introducing fire inside the control line to consume fuel between the edge of the fire and the control line along Forest Road 2599. This is done to secure the fire’s western edge and stop its growth toward critical infrastructure.
Cat Fire Overview:
High humidity and chance of showers are forecasted for the region, possibly giving crews an opportunity to conduct burnout operations if winds and weather are conducive to safely doing so.
Cat Fire Overview:
Date reported: August 6, 2018 Cause: Lightning
Size: 4,491 acres Personnel: 35
Effective immediately, fire officials are re-implementing an area closure for the Cat Fire for both public safety and the safety of firefighting personnel working in the area. Once it is determined safe to do so, the order will be rescinded by the Kaibab National Forest Supervisor.
Area, road and trail closure description are as follows:
With the Stina fire now at more than 90-percent contained local resources have nearly completed the fire suppression repair work, which is the first of the three-phased approach to aiding in the recovery of an area following a wildfire. Meanwhile, due to the limited access and steep terrain, firefighters continue a confine-contain strategy on the Cat Fire.
Favorable weekend weather conditions curtailed fire growth on the Cat Fire.
Crews took advantage of lighter than anticipated winds and higher humidity to focus on reinforcing fireline ahead of the Cat Fire.
Cat Fire Overview:
Date reported: August 6, 2018
Size: 4,108 acres
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